Thailand: Political stability and democratic crisis in the first year of King Vajiralongkorn

In January 2017 King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who had ascended the throne of Chakri only one month earlier, demanded a change in the constitution drafted by the military junta ruling the country since May 2014. These changes regarded the royal prerogatives and de facto reduced the power of the army and the traditional elites. Later in the year the king took new initiatives to expand his personal control over the Palace bureaucracy and over the immense economic assets of the monarchy. These moves not only introduced a latent power struggle with the ruling military junta but also are likely to have a lasting impact on the role of the monarchy. While the royal powers were reasserted, the junta largely succeeded in consolidating its power. Uncertainty remains on the date for future political election and, anyway, the new constitution will not allow a genuine return to democracy as the army will be able to exert a direct control over key political and economic leverages. Internationally the junta benefitted from the advent to the White House of Donald Trump, although China is increasingly the most important political and economic partner for Bangkok.